Psalms 81

1 To the chief music-maker; put to the Gittith. Of Asaph. Make a song to God our strength: make a glad cry to the God of Jacob.

For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Take up the melody, playing on an instrument of music, even on corded instruments.

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

3 Let the horn be sounded in the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our holy feast-day:

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

4 For this is a rule for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5 He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

6 I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

7 You gave a cry in your trouble, and I made you free; I gave you an answer in the secret place of the thunder; I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 Give ear, O my people, and I will give you my word, O Israel, if you will only do as I say!

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

9 There is to be no strange god among you; you are not to give worship to any other god.

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

10 I am the Lord your God, who took you up from the land of Egypt: let your mouth be open wide, so that I may give you food.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 But my people did not give ear to my voice; Israel would have nothing to do with me.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

12 So I gave them up to the desires of their hearts; that they might go after their evil purposes.

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

13 If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!

If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

14 I would quickly overcome their haters: my hand would be turned against those who make war on them.

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

15 The haters of the Lord would be broken, and their destruction would be eternal.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

16 I would give them the best grain for food; you would be full of honey from the rock.

But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”